Update: 12/11: This is what Lansing looks like this morning as around 15,000 people have converged on the capitol:

“In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’ It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone…Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights. We do not intend to let them do this to us. We demand this fraud be stopped.” —Martin Luther King

Last Thursday, nearly a thousand union members and supporters gathered inside the Michigan capitol building in Lansing to protest lawmakers' decision to ram through "right to work" legislation. The day ended abruptly when police began assaulting and pepper-spraying protesters, provoking an evacuation and lockdown of the capitol building. The protests have continued, and at least eight people have been arrested. This Tuesday, thousands more will descend upon Lansing to protest the 1%-backed "right to work" legislation, the most extreme anti-union law Michigan has ever seen. Nurses, teachers, autoworkers, service sector employees, iron-workers, and many other workers (including the unemployed), plus their families, allies, and communities, have already spoken out. Many have also received training and are preparing for nonviolent civil disobedience.

Occupy stands staunchly in solidarity with these days of action. The unfolding events in Michigan are the latest assault on workers' rights in the U.S. and across the globe. Government policies such as the cynically-named "right to work" legislation will lower living standards for the 99% and benefit the elite who profit from our labor. In the face of these blatant attacks on low-income and working people, we must show sustained and escalating resistance. Together, we can defeat the Wall Street, corporate agenda of consolidating wealth in the hands of the few at the expense of the many.

Therefore, we call on all Occupiers in Michigan, the Midwest, and beyond, to join in solidarity and Occupy the Capitol. Now is the time to activate the networks we've created and begin organizing for mass action. The lesson of Wisconsin's failed recall vote was that election politics are not enough — we need to put everything on the table: sustained physical occupation, mass civil disobedience, even the option of general strike. From the Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936-37, to the West Coast Port Shutdowns of 2011-12, history has shown time and time again: direct action gets the goods.

84 Comments

Corporate profits are at an all time high. Wages are at an all time low. Do not accept a b.s. "right to work" for even less than you already do!! Stand up and fight. The time is now for American workers to take back their rights.

A lot of these actions by conservative local governments are happening quietly while MSM focuses on what is going on in Washington D.C. Citizens United has successfully taken a hold in many local governments and we must take notice and stand up against their sneaky legislative actions that will harm most people while benefiting the few.

"DETROIT (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers union and two top German labor groups have signed a letter of intent to jointly organize the Volkswagen AG assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a top UAW official said on Monday"

"There’s no doubt about it; the denial of wealth is what keeps us in check, in debt. As a wise man once said, “There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One by sword, the other by debt.” The harsh, unavoidable truth is that we live in a system of debt slavery. The indentured servant is now the indebted consumer, indebted to a modern day aristocracy that thinks we are merely wage slaves and glorified peasants. Instead of using the advancement of technology and exponential increase in production, distribution and wealth creation to empower humanity, these modern neo-feudal lords are pathological in their shortsighted greed.", from :

There is a democracy deficit and apathy will give way to outrage in time, because I actually believe that that is inevitable. Please further consider at your leisure - in so far as you have any, given how hard you work here :

I am outraged about the "right to law" passing in Michigan, and am calling for a national strike in response, lol.

There is so much to discuss in the Blum article that my head can't get around all of it at once. So, I'll focus on the climate change and banksters piece. This said it all:

"Why does Barack Obama not pursue the battle against climate change with the same intensity he pursues war? Why does he not seek to punish the American bankers and stockbrokers responsible for the financial calamity as much as he seeks to punish Julian Assange and Bradley Manning?

In both cases he’s putting the interests of the corporate world before anything else." Ahhh.

I completely agree. It's a damn shame. I thought he had backbone. I saw his wife speak during the FIRST campaign and I said to a friend of mine sitting next to me in the audience, "Damn, she's actually kind of radical in a good way, much more so than people realize. I thought I had a good read on her (and him by association) because she uttered some key phrases and paragraphs with conviction that actually hurt her case for his election but she was speaking the truth. I was thrilled. But I was apparently wrong. If she really feels the way she appeared to feel when she spoke to us (and I think she does), either she's since given up and fallen in love with the trappings of power or she's been muzzled. I have to tell you though, the Mrs. Obama I saw speaking on the stage that night would have kicked Barack Obama of today's ass. The "current him" was exactly what she was railing about in that speech and that campaign.

Come to think of it, same for him.

I think they like your or I genuinely felt it. But that they arrived there and became immersed and were absolutely overwhelmed by corporate influence. It's as if it's the only oxygen in Washington and it's difficult to breathe if you don't accept that oxygen.

I'd like to think that I would have had backbone and gone for one term. From the chair I'm sitting in it would have been an honor and a thrill to do so. I thought he'd do that. Not sure what stopped him.

I think the first debate said a lot. His demeanor was one of having been broken, I thought. I think he, and as you point out, his wife, had good intentions, but found out quickly that even the Presidency is not powerful enough to overcome the corporate takeover of America. It is up to the people to get back this country.

Also, this is why Occupy has been so correct about staying out of the current political system. There is no winning in this current political system, Obama is proof of this, and we must work outside of it to bring about real change.

What you said here: "[Obama] found out quickly that even the Presidency is not powerful enough to overcome the corporate takeover of America. It is up to the people to get back this country.". That right there may be one of the most important statements made on this forum in the last 16 months. Too many of us thought he could do it and chastised him when he didn't and yet we ALSO failed to rise up the way we wanted him to. Pulling a voting lever is not nearly enough to fulfill ourselves as citizens of this nation. Pressure from within and outside the political system (in Washington, New York and power centers across the country was necessary and still is for real change to take place. Many of us who are in the younger age group celebrated too much when Obama won. We were naive about the forces we were up against.

In my view, we can restore this great republic. It would begin with something revolutionary like this http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/you-may-have-seen-this-list-of-8-practical-goals-b/ (this includes nonviolent direct action tactics to push for serious reforms that will at least get the corporate foot off our necks long enough to breath and go further to the root of the problem.. . . but obviously that's only a start. :)

Thanks, therising, for all the great work you do here. Yes, it is up to the people. They must rise up to the task of opening their hearts and minds to the changes that are needed here in this country. They must take off their blindfolds of hubris and love for the nation that is America and realize that if they truly love this country they will be willing to make real changes so that this country works for the benefit of all people.

No one person is going to be able to do it because, truthfully, the blood is on the hands of all Americans for letting things get to this point in the first place. Therefore, only the people as a collective group can clean up this mess.

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote at least a couple of books specifically about the power of nonviolent direct action / nonviolent resistance. I think if a few thousand of us dug into that and Gene Sharp and Gandhi plus a few others, we'd find that a lot of the mechanisms, tactics we're wrestling to discover have already been perfected. . . And the beautiful part is that King and Gandhi especially included the love part -- because it's true and also because it actually increases the power of this and the effectiveness a thousandfold.

If we think that the British in occupied India or the southern racists in the 60's were any less vicious, organized and determined than current forces, I think we're flat wrong. In some ways, we need to remind ourselves that our situation actually is not all that special (despite its obvious unique qualities) and that in fact others have risen up successfully. We should learn from them. I need to study :)

One individual can not stand alone against all of the active forces working against Humanity/Society/Environment/World/LIFE - and expect to win - one individual can however speak out against the active forces working against Humanity/Society/Environment/World/LIFE - and invite others of good WILL/SPIRIT to join with them and in uniting in common cause and recognition of the problems/issues/evil/corruption/greed - work together to make positive changes.

Is Obama Human? Is Obama Perfect? Is any Human Perfect that walks among us? Does Obama actually have good intentions for the people ( all of the people ) of the USA and then in extension the world(?) or NOT?

All in All he is only one man with limited powers ( as they should be ) If the rest of government is not forwarding actions to be taken in support of The People/Society/Environment/World/LIFE whose fault is that? Where are the People in Standing-up and Speaking-out in support of healthy change/growth?

YES - this has begun to happen - the people standing-up and speaking-out - and in so doing in stronger numbers every day - we will forward the issues that need addressing we will guide the proper direction/application of change we will remove from office those who stand in the way - we will do all of this - united in common cause - or not at all.

Corporate interests fueled by money which then in turn used corporate owned media to propagandize an unwitting public into supporting their inhuman agenda while corrupting our political system via citizens united etc.

Americans are frightened of clear headed language like yours because their Wholly Corporate Owned MSM and rubric based (mis)education system has conditioned them to forget about their own history and to fear that which is actually in their own interests because the 0.01% Parasite Class, using their 1% lackeys, wish for Americans to remain ignorant dupes. I could go on and on but I will leave people far better qualified than I to do the talking :

I can not recommend the above in particular the last link enough. Americans need to lose their fear and programming ; take heart and use their heads ; find their courage and confidence ... and start to believe in themselves and their collective strength, IF they and their kids, are to have a future that befits such a great nation, full of good people. That's why I'm here :-)

So well said: "Americans need to lose their fear and programming; take heart and use their heads; find their courage and confidence...and start to believe in themselves and their collective strength...." YES!

I'm glad you are here, Shadz, and thanks for all of your amazing contributions to the forum such as all the great links above.

"From the halls of state capitols and the port of Los Angeles, to the parking lots of McDonalds and the warehouses of Walmart, low-wage workers are pushing labor back into the national political arena.", from :

Either American Workers realise that their only security is each other or they meekly accept a future of abject, indentured, wage slavery for their children and their children's children as the whole country slips into 'Corporatism' (& readers may wish to look up Mussolini's definition of The "F" word !!).

Workers right across the board, white-collar, blue-collar and no collar are affected, with part-time, short-contract work with little rights or benefits, increasingly becoming the sad norm. Thanx for your gracious words. Your tireless efforts for The American 99% and clear, heart-centred work for a 'bw' for all, are very well appreciated. I respect your calmer karma ~*~ solidarity !

When workers pushback - all the 99%, ultimately gain. The ALEC enabling SCOTUS & its 'corporations are people ; money is speech' appeasements, are a morally bankrupt, ethically corrupt - disgrace and a campaign to overturn these decisions will ultimately triumph, as people slowly wise up to the bald faced treasonous, anti-human, crypto-fascist agenda. Thanks for all of your words and works, trying to engage heads and hearts and your belief that a different, better, saner way is possible for all. Solidarity to u bw !

Here we are 500 years after Columbus and the Puritans ... and still calling our wars "Defensive". Seems like Neocons and Republicans take their Ideology and certitude from the Puritans ...looking at Howard Zinn's book page 17 on your link above.

What Enemy? I think Pancho Villa crossed into the USA like in 1920. That was the last time the Continental USA was possibly attacked. Pearl harbor and Hawaii are aquisitions ...they aren't really of National Security Interest in 1939 as much as say ... the US Financial System in 2008. So yes, we were attacked in 1939 and our men got hurt bad. Who can threaten the USA as much as Wall Street Bankers? No one.

The enemy of freedom, sovereignity, and Liberty is ...people working within our own political system.

Did we have to fight any of these or go kill people in any of these modern military actions:

None of those people could ever have attacked the USA. And you can't fight a Guerilla War against Guerillas. Terrorists have not logistics bases, no supply hubs, no forts, no bases, no ports, no ships, no airplanes, no government, and no military. You can fight an army or declare war on a government. But Terrorism is a police crime.

Besides the US Congress hasn't Declared a single war, their Sole Power by the US Constitution, ... hasn't declared a single war since WWII. If there was a Real Threat to US Soil by an Invading Army - Don't You think the US Congress would Declare War???!!!!

Not since WWII.

Wanna see a list of Covert US Actions that undermined the Sovereignity of Foreign Countries ... that undermined Democracy in foreign countries?

WTC was bombed 3 times. Clinton was hated by the US Military, but he was neutral on the Defense Budget and Increase Defense Spending in his last years. Republicans were shouting that Clinton was going to be weak before he ever go into office. Turned out to be total Propaganda. As far as the US Military goes, Clinton did not cut any programs.

This is the thing about propaganda. You just keep saying things and most of it gets beleived.

The WTC bombings are a joke. How many times does it have to be bombed. And you can still get across the border from Canada or Mexico if you want to create terror in the US. Homeland Security is a beuracractic Empire ...just like all Federal Agencies ...It will never go away. BTW the Director of Central Intelligence (CIA) was the one that was repsonsible for coordinating National Intelligence on 9-11.

Notice how No Public Executives where held repsonsible for 9-11. Notice how now Private Executives were held responsible for 2008 Financial Crisis.

The only people held responsible are the poor & the middle class who are told to work harder, give up more, go to civil court and sue for redress.... BS. You can't afford to sue a big corproation in court. You can't get Federal Subsidy Money for your Business - unless you are mking big campaign contributions and lobbying congress.

What you don't know about tax abatements and Corporate Welfare yet?

Walmart has gotten subsidies to build warehouses, build parking lots, and build retail stores that put local small busiensses out of business and destroy jobs.

How about Defense Contractors going to Congress and getting congress to push defense contracts down on the Military. It is supposed to the opposite. There is a formal Military process for approving budgets and programs. There are ethics rules that try to discourage Conflict of Interest and force reporting Financial disclosures.

But the US Finanical-Government system is constantly influenced by Money and corporations.

Under Reagan the US Controlled the Persian Gulf and the Middle East through our Ships stationed their. We dominated the air. Now you tell me what changed in our national security status since Ronald Reagan. Nothing has changed. But the people that want war have doubled the defense budget since 1998. The people that want defense Spending are getting huge financial benefits.

And all of this is the same as it was 100 years ago under General Smedley Butler. Some say Eisenhower was the most under rated US General of all time. They say he was real smart, but made hard things look easy. He says "Beware of the Military Industrial Complex".

I don't like everything about Clinton, but he didn't destroy Iraq the way George Bush Did. But I guess you don't have normal feelings for Refugees, Disease, Murder, Rape in Refugee Camps, ...peoples homes and businesses destroyed, ... family members killed ...kids killed ...women killed as colateral damage. Oh and the Cancer Rate is up to, seems our ordinance might damage the environment as well as our Veterans that handled the Rounds.

"At some point in the not-so-distant-future Tennesseans, and good folk throughout the South are going to realize that labor having a voice and some muscle is the key to good jobs that can support a family, expand rights to more people each day and yes, walking upright. Soon. Someday real soon."

Entitlement is CEO's off-shoring all the wealth for themselves because they're in charge of a bank account.

Millionaire and Billionaire CEO's would be nowhere without workers. They wouldn't have product to sell because workers make the product. They wouldn't have people to sell the products because they wouldn't have workers to sell them.

If you read the story at that link, you'll see they only really tell one side of it with cherry picked stats and present it as a foregone conclusion that nothing can be done. So weird that Americans take this to be their trusted news source.

Convincing point. Is there a way to do both? .... To work from the inside and outside according to your inclination and abilities. I have participated in politics and direct action from the outside and I find that each kind of pressure helps the other. Malcolm X's work helped Martin L King's work (not advocating violence at all -- I'm strictly for nonviolence -- but you get the genre idea.

MY belief-
OWS did an impossible job - in just a few months -
throwing the 1%-99% issue to the top of American political considerations
We did this with large actions - but our "population" has shrunk drastically.
{ Why this shrink happened, I dont want to get into now }.
We need to pick a very small number of REAL ATTAINABLE GOALS

you know mine is a constitutional amendment to end corporate personhood & overturn citizens united
The Jan 21 anniversary is a good opportunity to bring it to the streets again - but we need to evolve - to connect with the next step:
The
[end corporate personhood]

sign should be

[ vote for candidates who will ]
[ end corporate personhood ]

another attainable, but far harder to explain goal is Glass-Steagle

but the heart of the matter, convincing OWS to support and vote electable candidates who support our goals requires a real act of faith -
that our commitment must not be to OWS - but to what is best for the people.

I never saw America and suppose never will--a part of the same earth that I am placed--in India. It amazes me to contrast the then Presidents like Lincon, Jefferson and many others and the current one--moreover he is a Nobel Laureate if I remember correct. If my bird brain understands right, the non-Laureate Presidents made USA bright and beautiful in all possible ways. And the Nobel Laureate one is policing (police force) USA in all possible ways. What a great achievement for a Nobel Laureate!!! Paramhansa Yogananda, a God-seer guru predicted long ago about such socio-political unbalance worldwide and he also asserted that the social revolutions would smash the BLACK forces and bring about WHITE forces--the color in the flags of many states and sub-continents including India and USA. 99% white versus 1% black is a hopeless statistics! All that reminds me of the supernova and black hole in the cosmic universe that are probably God's way of telling the right color of life.

Please change the title of this article to "Corporate Servitude Law" instead of right to work. The law is about enslaving workers to the desires of corporations. Using right to work in your articles plays into the conservatives game of word semantics. Right to work implies workers are getting rights which is not true.

Exactly - that is the point that must be driven home - over and over and over............... it is not the post's terminology - it is the disinformation labeling of those who are working against the people ( TPTB ) - and it needs to be shown for what it is - false to the label - RTW is an exact opposite of what it accomplishes = employers right to shit on the worker.

Unions should have to compete for dues by offering advantages that non union folks see as beneficial. People are good, and if they are presented with the benefits of unionization, they will pay for it. Suggesting that your fellow workers are free riding on the backs of unionists is a horrifc indictment of the common man, who will pay for what he sees has value.

As the corporate war on workers rages on.We are faced with daily assaults.President one percent gives us a lap dance.And the liberals are greatful for his smile.The union leaders are secure and offer rank and file lip service.Grandpa and grandma stock up on cat food they get from the big box store.